St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-04-28
VERMONT CONFERENCE.
Largely Attended and Interesting ses-
sions.


The conference proper opened Thurs
day morning, Bishop J. w. Walden
presiding, Bro. H. A. Spencer acting as
precentor. After devotional exercises
the bishop called to his assistance the
presiding elders and Revs. G.. w. III.
Clark, pastor of the st. Johnsbury
church, A. Il. Bullard, p Merrill, A.
L. Cooper and w. j. Kidder and pro-
ceeded to the administration of the
sacrament.
The calling of the roll which follow
ed showed IS brethren present.
Rev. X. Morgan was elected secreta-
ry for the 10Th time Rev. F. w. Lewis
statistical secretary and Rev. r. l..
Bruce assistant; Revs. G.. E. Smith and
g. l.. Story were elected assistant sec
retaries and Rev. Il. p. Frost, railroad
secretary. The various standing COM
mittees were then raised.
Rev. G. NJ. Lamson presented the
congratulations of the Congregational
churches of Vermont. He said that
even the frost of the last hard winter
had not frozen up the warmth of these
greetings. The desire of the church
represented was that there might be a
more practical comfy between the two
churches not uniformity but unity ;
that the prayer of Christ might be real
ized-that they may all be one.
By request of the conference, the
Bishop responded to these greetings,
stating that it was the desire of the
Methodist church thus to be in union
with all those who were working for
the Lords cause the unity that said
''If thy heart be as my heart, give me
thy hand" In response to a state
ment by Brother Lamson, that many
people are born MethOdists and others
COngregatiOnalists, the bishop said
that at was "a fact that every MethO-
dist was born" Not simply born into
the world, but "bOrn again" He said
that in the West, MethOdists and Con-
questions of the age. The conference
would not give their feelings now, but
keep them good and warm and send
them 10y live messenger at the proper
time.
The various districts were then heard
from. Rev. j. o. Sherburne, presiding
elder of the Montpelier district, report
ed encOuragingly. Rev. E. w. Culver,
presiding elder of st. Adams district,
reported an aggregate increase of 400
or more probationers and other en-
cOuraging features.
Bishop Walden followed with re-
marks regarding the duties of the
preachers toward their hosts; also in
relation to his presence with the con-
ference and the Importance of these
annual gatherings. He said that after
studying the state of affairs in ali the
Union, he believed that preachers of
to-day make as large sacrifices as the
"fathers."
At 2:O5 p. M, Il large congregation
gathered to hear the missionary SER
mon by Rev. A. j. Hough, the poet
preacher, of Bradford. His theme was
great work for a great God, and his
text I'd Chronicles SO. The preacher
said: Our conception of God will man
ifest itself in our service to him. Sol
ONION proposed to build great house
because God was great God. Moth
ing small should enter into it. That
conception, inspired, guided, and sus-
tanned the king in all his works. Fol-
lowing this line of thought the preach
er delivered an eloquent and spirited
address and was followed closely by
his hearers from the beginning to the
end.
Following, and with hardly an in
Permission, the anniversary of the
WOman's Foreign Missionary society
was held: under the presidency of Mrs.
Rev. w. d. Malcolm of Ludlow. Mrs.
A. l.. Bailey, secretary of the ST.
Johnsbury branch of the w. F. NJ. S.,
then made a statement, and invited all
the ladies at conference to attend
meeting of the WOman's society in the
vestry Friday morning. Mrs. Malcolm
then introduced DR.. j. Nj. ThOburn, as
one who had been in India for % years.
The doctor referred to the work in
which he had been called upon by the
women, and mentioned his special in
terest because member of this con-
ference, Z. w. Parker, went out with
him at first. Three things united in
the foundation of the wOman's work
inward conviction, corresponding con-
viction of the church, and the prOvi-
dence of God. Then followed "A deep
ly interesting account of his work in
India, at the close of which a cOllec-
ton was taken.
At five o'clock the conference met in
statistical session, session where the
blank forms which have been supplied
to every minister for the collection of
the numerical returns of the church
are handed in. This session was pre-
sided over by Rev. p. Merrill of Enos-
burg Falls.
The evening session began with a
revival service led 10y Rev. A. L. Coop
er. At7.30 the missionary anniversary
was held, Rev. c. P. Taplin presiding.
After brief and interesting remarks by
Revs. HI. w. WOrthen and w. ID. NAL
com the address of the evening was
delivered by DIR. ThOburn who very
told of his exneriences in